Cancer Council SA funded researchers from both the Hanson Institute at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Wark Institute at the University of South Australia, have successfully developed nanoparticles with the ability to travel to cancer tumours and bond to dead cancer cells.

Ordinarily, the human body will trap nanoparticles in the liver and spleen preventing them from reaching a tumour. However, the researchers are developing an innovative molecular shell for the nanoparticles to stop them being trapped by the body, thus improving targeting to the tumour.

“The nanoparticles have a magnetic core of iron oxide which is visible via MRI scans. So if nanoparticles bond to dead tumour cells, we are able to see these dead cells within a cancer tumour and therefore assess effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on the cancer.”

“Traditionally it takes doctors up to nine weeks to determine whether treatments are having an effect. However, through the use of this nanotechnology we may be able to determine whether a treatment is having an effect within just a few days,” said Associate Professor Michael Brown from the Hanson Institute at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Through this technology, patients who are not responding to a treatment can avoid unnecessary and detrimental treatment regimes and be quickly changed to a potentially more effective type of treatment.

The nanoparticles can also be used to carry cancer treatment directly to tumours, potentially resulting in better treatment outcomes. ”Because the nanoparticle is attracted to dead cancer cells we now have the opportunity to direct cancer killing medicines in larger amounts to the nearby live tumour cells,” he said.

Potentially the most advanced research of its kind, the method has been successful in mice and the researchers hope to soon begin trials in humans.

Chief Executive of Cancer Council SA, Associate Professor Wilson, said that the research is world-class and has the potential to greatly improve the evaluation and targeting of cancer treatments.

“Undergoing cancer treatment can be a horrible experience. This research could save patients from undergoing unnecessary treatments, assist in finding the best treatments quickly, and improve the effectiveness of treatments that do work,” she said.

Cancer Council SA relies on the generosity of the community to fund over $3 million of cancer research, which delivers improved treatment and diagnostic outcomes for cancer patients, each year. To help fund this research, donate to Cancer Council SA by calling 1300 65 65 85 or online at www.cancersa.org.au 

Notes to editors:

The researchers involved in the study are as follows:

-          Professor Hans Greisser of the University of South Australia        

-          Dr Benjamin Thierry of the University of South Australia

-          Associate Professor Michael Brown of the Royal Adelaide Hospital Cancer Centre

-          Professor Peter Majewski of the University of South Australia

-          Dr Jamie Taylor of the Royal Adelaide Hospital